Softball: Lucas delivers walk-off hit in Fremd's regional title win over Conant

After splitting a pair of 1-run Mid-Suburban West games, the stage was set for more suspense and drama from the Fremd and Conant softball teams when they met for the championship of the Cougars Class 4A regional on Friday.

The two finalists hardly disappointed with yet another nail-biter, this time a 3-2 come-from-behind triumph for the No. 4 seeded Vikings (24-9) who earned a trip to the St. Charles North sectional to meet the top-seeded and host North Stars (22-6) on Tuesday.

The game was tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh when Fremd loaded the bases with no outs, taking advantage of 2 errors and a walk to Chiara D'Antonio.

Sophomore cleanup hitter Hailey Lucas proceeded to line a single to left, scoring leadoff batter Taylor Piento for the game-winner.

Lucas (12-4) also pitched the final 1 2/3 innings in relief of starter Lauren Graham (11-5) to notch the win.

"I love those pressure situations," said Lucas, who got a double play ground ball (1-5-3 including third baseman Sydney Sheedy and first baseman Eva Dernis) to close out the sixth inning.

"I know it's just like any other moment and I've just got to think of it like any other at-bat. My teammates (PIento, Anna Poss and 'D'Antonio) all got on base so I knew I had to keep it moving to make sure we could get the win. It feels very good to win a regional."

It was Fremd's 22nd regional crown and fourth in its last five chances under coach Josh Teschner.

"We were very excited coming into the game and we felt very prepared together," said Vikings senior catcher Ryanne Goodwin. "They (Graham and Lucas) do an amazing job and I love catching both of them."

Ashleigh Simmons caught the final game for Natalie Spaitis (16-6), who will move to play for Tusculum University, Tenn.

"We knew going into the game it was going to be the tale of three phenomenal pitchers," said Teschner. "There is an argument to be made that they are three of the top five in the conference. We knew going into the game it would come down to who could outlast, who could scrape, who could claw and find a way to score a run. Against great pitching, that's what it takes."

No. 6 seeded Conant (18-10) found a way to score first, getting a no-doubt-about it homer over the center field fence from Mikayla Nowicki to lead off the top of the fourth.

"That was a shot by Mikayla," said Conant coach Allie Bauch. "She was exactly who we wanted up later in the game, too (with the bases loaded in the seventh when she hit the ball well again, flying out to Piento in center field). I'm proud of these girls and their fight."

Fremd fought back in the bottom of the fifth when Mia Souliotis led off with a stand-up double to left center, followed by a bunt hit by Piento (2-for-4) and No. 2 hitter Anna Poss' 2-run double to left for the 2-1 lead.

Spaitis then retired the next three batters to get out of the inning. The right-hander closed out her stellar career by throwing all seven innings, tossing a 6-hitter with 6 strikeouts (258 for the season and 583 for her career).

"She had a heck of a senior season," Bauch said. "She went all out this year and had a historic season for us."

The Cougars did their best to and extend their season in the top of the seventh, tying the game on Colleen McManamon's two-out single to right which drove in Jaina Halman who had singled to right before being sacrificed to second by Riya Patel. Conant had the bases loaded when Lucas got a fly out to keep the score tied at 2-2.

"There are very few players in the conference who had the year Hailey (Lucas) has had," Teschner said. "I know she was a little frustrated after the top of the seventh but to come back and get the game-winning hit in that moment meant a lot. We talk to our kids a lot about finding the moments you can capitalize on and she absolutely did, I am very, very proud of her and very very proud of our girls."

Just like Bauch was of her Cougars.

"We knew it was going to be a fight," Bauch said. "That's what I kept telling everyone who was coming to the game. And that's exactly what it was today, a fight back and forth. It was exactly what you want from a regional championship game."